Operations of WW2 - P

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Operation Portcullis

Four transports arrived from Port Said, without loss.
The strategic situation in the Mediterranean Sea had changed. Axis forces in North Africa were being squeezed between British Eighth Army, advancing from Egypt, and the Anglo-American First Army advancing from Algeria. Convoys henceforth had protection from North Africa. Malta regained its role as a forward offensive base. Axis convoys were harassed. The later invasions of Sicily and Italy were supported from Malta.

Conclusions

There were 35 major supply operations to Malta from 1940 through 1942. Axis forces frustrated or damaged eight of these: Operations White, Halberd, MF5, MG1, Harpoon, Vigorous, and Pedestal. There were long periods when no convoy runs were even attempted, and only a trickle of supplies reached Malta by submarine, or by a fast warship running the gauntlet.
The worst period for Malta was from December 1941 to October 1942, when Axis forces had the upper hand, achieving complete air and naval supremacy in the central Mediterranean (called the Italian Mare Nostrum by Benito Mussolini).
At the end of 1942, the relative success of Operation Pedestal, and Allied land operations in North Africa changed the balance decisively in favour of the Allies.